Beast Taming: Hitman's Retired Life With Forbidden Beasts

Anastasia frowned.

"Victor Cruz, what's your question?"

Gathering everyone's attention, Victor calmly asked.

"Regarding the Annual Beasts Colosseum, Skylar Scholars are given more slots and options, right?"

At the mention of the term 'Skylar Scholar', everyone's expressions turned strange with a mix of envy. It wasn't exactly a secret that Victor was a Skylar Scholar and a pretty undeserving one at that.

All Skylar Scholars since the academy's founding were geniuses, with the exception of Victor, who to this day bewilders everyone about how he got the opportunity with his mediocre talent.

Anastasia's frown deepened even more once she heard his question. But despite her misgivings, she answered him calmly.

"That's right, Skylar Scholars are indeed given more benefits than ordinary students. But this isn't absolute. If your strength isn't up to par with the academy's standards, then they're free to withhold or take back your benefits."

Everyone caught the implications of her words. They sneered at Victor internally. Trying to freeload in the academy? Dream on! Their already bad feelings about the man turned worse.

But as though he didn't hear anything, Victor kept asking.

"May I ask what the requirements are?"

At this moment, someone stepped out to interfere. He had a kind, accommodating smile on his face.

It was Maxwell Welt. 

"Classmate, what Ms. Anastasia is trying to say…"

Victor glared at him.

"I'm not talking to you. Quiet down."

Maxwell froze, his expression darkening. Everyone fell silent, Ning Yuxue widened her eyes in surprise. All the students looked at Victor as if he was a madman.

Before Maxwell had the chance to speak again, Anastasia interrupted them both.

"The requirements are to have at least One Core cultivation level with Gold core quality. The higher the quality level, the better the academy will reward you."

"If you have a Lord core quality, then you'll have the right to choose 3 beasts as well as access to the Sky Beasts section."

Victor nodded. 

"I understand. Thank you for answering my questions. That's all."

He gave a short bow. He was only asking because the previous owner of his body was working hard for the Annual Beast Colosseum.

A large part of the previous owner's hope to turn things around was the so-called Skylar Scholar benefits.

Anastasia nodded at him and looked at everyone once again.

"Those with One Core cultivation levels, step aside and practice elsewhere at the training field. While those with Great Origin cultivation levels will stay here with me."

A few students stepped away after hearing her words, including Maxwell Welt and Ning Yuxue. 

Before Maxwell went on to follow Ning Yuxue, he sent a furious glare towards Victor.

Victor didn't even bother to acknowledge his pathetic behavior, pissing off Maxwell further.

***

"The Great Origin."

While Vincent sat in a meditative position, Anastasia slowly walked around, lecturing everybody.

"In the 250th year of the Blackthorn Era, the legendary Leonhardt Thorn discovered primal force and the way to harness it. His achievement gave humanity hope to survive in the new world."

"The first realm of cultivation, Great Origin, was termed by Leonhardt himself. In his own words, it is supposed to mean the 'origin of the great human'. This realm is where all beast tamers begin their cultivation journey."

"The Great Origin realm focuses on awakening one's senses to primal force, the energy that fills this world. Once we can sense primal force, we use a key method to absorb it…"

Victor was listening intently to Anastasia's words. While his predecessor was a hard-working individual, the man didn't like to study at all.

"The key method beast tamers use to absorb primal force is through using a cultivation manual, or in words, a meditative method."

"The academy has given each one of you the Skysworn Cultivation Manual, a jade-quality meditative method. To use the cultivation manual, one must visualize its contents. If you still don't know how, you may be an idiot with no future for cultivation."

Victor focused his mind, visualizing an iron-winged serpent. The iron-winged serpent was a beast with avian and reptilian features. It was known for its sharp wings and long body resembling that of a serpent.

"Once we absorb enough, a great change will occur in our body. This is the process of awakening one's core, stepping into the One Core realm, and becoming a genuine beast tamer."

At that moment, a change occurred in one of the meditating students. Anastasia's eyes flashed, immediately appearing beside the female student. She put her hands over the student's shoulder.

The student seemed to be struggling, but after Anastasia appeared, her expression suddenly eased. Then, after a while, a silver light shone from her body. 

"Once you awaken your core, it may appear the same with most people, with a silver sheen… Or it may look very different. The color of your core is the manifestation of its quality."

Hearing that, the student paid thanks to Anastasia before looking at her own body. She was filled with nervousness and excitement. But after a quick look, her expression suddenly dropped terribly.

"A silver shine indicates Iron quality, the lowest. 

A green shine indicates Jade quality.

A gold shine indicates Gold quality.

A purple shine indicates Lord quality…"

Anastasia retracted her hand, stepping away. Once she saw the student's face, she sighed.

"An iron core quality can only house 1 common or rare magical beast. You may not become as strong as other beast tamers, but with hard work and determination, you can still carve a path for yourself. Not all legendary people in history showed talent at the start."

The student's face brightened at her words, a determined glint flashing in her eyes. 

Anastasia walked away and continued her lecture.

Since her words were loud enough, most students heard her and were inspired to work harder. Their expressions tightened as they gave their all in visualizing the iron-winged serpent.

Victor was the opposite. He slowed down his efforts in visualization. He had a different idea in mind, especially after hearing Mirage's comments.

[... That cultivation manual is rubbish, don't absorb primal force using that. It will cripple your foundation. Find a better cultivation manual, or create one suitable for you…]

That's right—the Ancient Eye's ability to create.